I wanted to make a costume that was iconic. I'm a huge fan of the Mario Kart series and wanted to make the a blue turtle shell costume.
I'm wearing the costume. I typically wear my costumes at my community center during the week of Halloween as I am a youth counselor.
The amount of materials will greatly differ depending on your size. I'm 6'4" and the costume was roughly 5'5" long x 4' wide x 4' tall.
Difficulty level 4/5
Start by cutting and then mending the hula hoops to form an oval that is big enough to fit over your shoulders and down to your knees. Drill holes and use zip ties to secure the holahoops.
Use hola hoops to create arches that will create the shell frame work. Use the remaining hoops to create structural braces and the shape for your arms, legs, and head.
Use tracing paper to map out the sections of shell. Lay the tracing paper on the chicken wire and cut out matching chicken wire sections. Zip tie and duct tape the chicken wire onto the frame.
Use masking tape to tape the tracing paper onto the the shell.
Attach the foam noodles to create the shell rims and opening borders.
You can now begin paper macheing. I did 3 layers of newspaper on top of the tracing paper.
Mix the resin powder to and do 2 coats on the shell.
Use the cardboard to create wings to scale. Paper mache and resin the wings.
Use the styrofoam cones and mount the bolts in the cones. cover the cones in paper mache.
Mount 2 bolts in the wings and then cover the wings with white felt.
Glue and wire the led strip lighting along the edges and wings for the desired look. Cover the shell in blue felt. Then use the white duct tape to create the shell pattern. Cover the shell base in beige felt and outline with black electrical tape.
Drill holes for the wings and cones and bolt them on. Hot glue the turkey feathers on to the wings.
Tools: Electric drill, electric scissors,exacto knife, wire, cutters, 3" paint brush, 9" roller kit, & hot glue gun
Supplies: 10 hula hoops, 300 6" zip ties, Chicken wire, 2x 5lb tub of Resin powder, 4 yards of blue felt, 2 yards of white left, 2 yards of beige felt, 5 rolls of electrical tape, 1 roll of white duct tape, 1 roll of reg duct tape, 1 gallon of Elmer's glue, 6 foam swim noodles, 30' of led strip lights, led strip light connectors, led 12v power pack, 5 packs of large white turkey feathers, 9 10" bolts w/ washers and nuts, a lot of newspaper, hot glue sticks, cardboard or poster board, roll of standard brown wrapping paper, roll of tracing paper, masking tape, & 9 styrofoam cones.